In the Administrative County of West Suffolk.
Annual Export nf tb^ ffltbital ©flte of U^altlj
On the Health and Sanitary Condition of the Cosford Rural District of the Cosford Union,
during the twelve months ending the 31st December, 1907.
(Thirteenth Annual Report to the Cosford District Council.)
Population (1891) 12354, (1901) 11618, {Males 5809, Females 5809).
Area 48572 acres. Number of Persons per acre , 0.2.
Number of Inhabited Houses , 2703. Number of Persons per Inhabited House , 4.2.
I. Births. There were 267 births registered during the year (130 males and 137 females), making a
birth-rate of 22-9 per thousand of the population. The births and birth-rates during the past five years were as
follows : —
1903.
Births 282
Birth-rates... 24.2
1904.
281
24.1
1905.
283
24.3
1906. 1907.
284 267
24.4 22.9
II. Deaths. The number of deaths from all causes was 183 (95 males and 88 females), making a
death-rate of 16.7 per thousand of the population. The deaths and death-rates for the past five years were : —
1903. 1904.
Deaths 169 169
Death-rates.. 14.5 14.5
1905, 1906. 1907.
138 171 183
11.8 14.7 15.7
Infantile Mortality. There were 29 deaths among infants under 1 year of age, being 108.6 per thousand on
the registered births. Of these 7 occurred in the Hadleigh Division of the District, and 22 in the Lavenham
Division. The proportion of deaths under 1 year of age to births in the last five years were : —
1903. 1904. 1905. 1906. 1907.
108.5 106.7 63.6 95.0 108.6
Zymotic Diseases. There were 13 deaths during the year due to zymotic diseases. They were — Measles 1,
Whooping Cough 6, Epidemic Influenza 4, Enteric l, Erysipelas 1. The zymotic deaths and death-rates in the
past five years were as follows : —
Small Scarlet Diphtheria. Puerperal
Diarrhoea.
Typhoid
Measles.
Whooping Epidemic
Erysipelas.
Totals.
Death-
pox. Fever.
Fever.
Dysentery.
Fever.
Cough. Influenza.
rates.
1903 — — 1
—
1
1
—
2 5
—
10
.8
1904 — 1 5
—
1
1
—
— 1
—
9
.7
1905 — — 1
1
—
—
—
— 3
—
5
.4
1906 — — 2
—
1
—
2
6 1
—
12
1.03
1907 — — —
—
—
1
1
6 4
1
13
1.1
Deaths from all other causes were
170, or 14.6 per thousand of the population. The deaths
in this district
caused by the principal diseases, and death-rates during the past five years were: —
Bronchitis.
Phthisis.
Pleurisy.
Heart Disease.
Injury.
Other Diseases.
Totals.
Death-
Pneumonia.
rates.
1903... 9
14
21
3
112
159
13.6
1904.. 9
18
19
4
110
160
13.7
1905... 10
13
15
3
93
133
11.1
1906... 8
24
24
6
97
159
13.6
1907... 14
21
25
4
106
170
14.6
III. The Infectious Disease (Notification) Act. The total number of cases of infectious disease
notified in this district during 1907 was 18, or 1.5 per thousand of the population. The cases notified during
the past five years were : —
Smallpox.
Scarlet
Fever.
Continued
Fever.
Diphtheria.
Memb.
Croup.
Typhoid
Fever*
Puerperal
Fever.
Erysipelas.
Totals.
Per Thousand
of Population.
1903 —
66
—
2
—
5
—
2
75
6.5
1904 —
33
—
17
1
1
—
4
56
4.8
1905 —
51
—
6
—
4
1
7
69
5.9
1906 —
4
—
10
—
—
—
2
16
1.3
1907 —
13
—
1
—
1
—
3
18
1.5
Small Pox. There were no cases of Small Pox in the district during the year.
Scarlet Fever. There were 13 cases in all (none fatal) during the year. Five were at Boxford, seven at
Hitcham and one at Lindsey. The outbreak at Boxford was of a very virulent character, and was illustrative of
the great difficulties that may be experienced in dealing with an epidemic where no Isolation Hospital is
provided. The first case was that of a barmaid who was sent home ill from her situation with what was supposed
to be a septic throat. Four days later her sister went down with scarlet fever of a severe type. The only other
inmate of the house was the invalid mother, who was quite incapable of doing either housework or nursing, and
as it was impossible to get anyone in the place to look after them, another sister came home and promptly went
down with the fever. It then became necessary to send to Bury Nursing Home for two fever nurses, and to
make arrangements to provide the whole household with food and other necessaries from outside. Before manv
days the invalid mother took the fever, and also one of the nurses, and another nurse had to be sent for. The
house, a very small one, was now overcrowded, but I was fortunately able to hire an empty one close by and put
in sufficient furniture to accommodate some of the cases. The greatest difficulty of all was to get the most
necessary washing done, as there was a panic in the neighbourhood from fear of infection, and in the end it had
to be done by volunteers from my own household. I may say here that the first case of “ septic throat,” although
there was no rash visible, was undoubtedly a case of scarlet fever, as she afterwards peeled freely. Although this
outbreak was confined to one family it cost the Sanitary Authority over £46, and the expense would have been
considerably more if it had not been for the fortunate chance of being able to hire the empty house close by.
The outbreak at Hitcham was almost entirely amongst school children, and was of a mild type. It was
introduced into the village by a girl who had been discharged from a Fever Hospital.
Diphtheria. There was only one case during the year, at Chelsworth, in a house where there was a defective
scullery drain, and the drinking-water, obtained from a shallow well, was also unsatisfactory.
Typhoid Fever. There was one case at Lavenham, which proved fatal. The drinking-water in this case was
occasionally obtained from the river, which is not a wholesome supply. There was no necessity to drink the
river water, as there was a good supply obtainable from the standpipe in Water Street.
Puerperal Fever. None.
Erysipelas. There were three cases — One at Groton, and two at Lavenham, one of which proved fatal.
Anthrax. There was one case (fatal) during the year. It was that of a workman in Mr. Roper’s Horsehair
Factory at Lavenham. A special report on the Factory was made at the time, and the question of the prevention
of Anthrax has been occupying the attention of the County Council for some time.
The Special Committee appointed to investigate the matter, in their report “ recommend the County Council
to point out to all District Councils, that in no case should they permit the effluent from Hair Factories to drain
into streams or rivers direct.”
The present system at Mr. Roper’s Factory is to disinfect all hair by immersing it in a one per cent, solution
of cyllin for 24 hours.
Tuberculosis. There were 16 cases of Tuberculosis, 14 of which were Pulmonary. I think it very advisable
that tuberculosis should be included in the list of notifiable diseases, as a good deal of ignorance still exists as
to the precautions that should be taken to prevent infection.
IV. Water Supply. There is nothing fresh to report with regard to the water supply of the district.
The villages provided with public wells, from which they partly derive their supply are : — Cockfield, Elmsett,
Groton, Hitcham, Lindsey, Lavenham, Monks Eleigh, Polstead and Whatfield.
Those parishes which depend almost entirely on ponds for their water supply are : — Aldham, Brettenham,
Kettlebaston, Milden, Naughton, Nedging, Thorpe Morieux, Preston and Wattisham.
Water Analysis. Eight samples were analysed during the year, and four were found unsatisfactory.
V. Sewerage. The sewers in Boxford and Hadleigh Hamlet have been fitted with gully-traps and
block-traps, in place of the previous!) -existing cesspools, which were a nuisance. Forty-seven yards of new
sewer have been laid in Hadleigh Hamlet.
VI. Houses and Cottages. During the year there have been four cottages repaired and cleaned by
order of the Sanitary Authority. Three cases of overcrowding have been abated.
VII. Factory and Workshop Act. The Factories and Bakehouses have all been inspected during the
year and found satisfactory with the exception of one small bakehouse at Bildeston, since closed as being
insanitary. The Bakehouses are all above ground, and the Factories are all provided with sufficient means of
escape in case of fire. There are 66 Outworkers engaged in horse-hair weaving or tailoring. Their premises
were all inspected and it was found that they were working under satisfactory conditions.
Section 22 of the Public Health Acts (Amendment) Act, 1890, has not been adopted by the Council.
VIII. Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act. Dairies, Cowsheds and Milkshops Order. There are no
Milkskops, but seven Dairies and Cowsheds registered in the district, two others having been given up during
the year. Three are at Lavenham, one at Boxford, one at Bildeston, one at Hitcham, and one at Whatfield.
They were all inspected and found satisfactory.
In many of the parishes in the district the supply of milk is not adequate to the demand, which fact is to be
deplored, as milk is such a necessary article of diet, especially for children.
IX. Slaughter Houses. One was ordered to be cleaned and lime-washed.
X. Isolation Hospital. None.
XI. Schools. All the Elementary Schools in the district have been inspected during the year. In one
case the sanitary arrangements were found in a very dirty condition, — since remedied. One School (Hitcham)
was closed for a time on account of an outbreak of Scarlet Fever, and three were closed on account of Whooping
Cough amongst the children.
XII. Sanitary Inspection. Report of Mr. Scrivener, Inspector of Nuisances — ‘‘A house-to-house
inspection of the district was made during the year and 115 notices served for the abatement of nuisances, a list
of which in the various parishes is given in the Table at the end of this Report: 113 of these nuisances have
been abated. Eleven houses were disinfected, and disinfectants supplied to nine cases. Water analysed, ponds
cleaned out, &c., 7.”
XIII. Special Reports. There were two special reports made during the year, one on the Dairies,
Cowsheds and Milkshops under the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, and one on a special inspection of the
Horsehair Factory at Lavenham.
The Tabular Statements, according to the forms supplied by the Local Government Board, of sickness and
mortality in the district are appended to this Report. Also a Tabular Statement according to a form required
by the West Suffolk County Council.
ALFRED THOMPSON,
Medical Officer of Health.
TABLE II. — Cosford Rural District
TABLE I. — Cosford Rural District.
For Whole District.
Ti
V
0
2 H
| Births.
Deaths under
One Year
of age.
Deaths at all
Ages. Total.
0
1 *
Year.
lation estii
to middle
f each yea
<u
B
Rate*
<U
rQ
a
Rate per
1000
Births
O
a
Rate*
P, §
.3 a
a? • -3
C/)
0 O
01
0
Ph
0
fc
0
3
regis-
tered.
0
&
<D l-H
O
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
1897
12354
338
27.3
23
68.0
173
14.0
12
1898
320
25.9
40
125.
200
16.0
18
1899
310
25.0
25
80.6
167
13.5
16
1900
325
26.3
35
107.6
196
15.8
19
1901
11618
327
28.1
35
107.0
179
15.4
17
1902
278
23.9
36
129.4
194
16.6
19
1903
282
24.2
34
120.5
169
14.5
10
1904
2S1
24.1
30
106.7
169
14.5
13
1905
283
24.3
18
63.6
138
11.8
19
1906
284
24.4
27
95.0
171
14.7
14
Averages \
for years f
302.8
25.3
30.3
100.3
175.6
14.6
15.7
1 «Q7 i
1906... )
1907
11618
267
22.9 !
i
29
108.6
183
15.7
12
♦Rates calculated per 1,000 of estimated population.
At Census of 1901 —
Area of District in Acres (exclusive of area covered by water) ... 48572
Total Population at all ages ... ... ... ... 11618
Number of Inhabited Houses ... ... ... ... 2703
Average Number of Persons per house ... ... ... 4.2
TABLE V. — Cosford Rural District.
Infantile Mortality during the year 1907.
Deaths from stated Causes in Weeks and Months
under One Year of Age.
Cause of Death.
Under 1 Week.
1- 2 Weeks.
2- 3 Weeks.
| 3-4 Weeks. j|
| To’l un’er 1 M’th.||
| 1-2 Months.
2-3 Months. j
3-4 Months. il
4-5 Months.
5-6 Months. 1
| 6-7 Months.
| 7-8 Months. ||
8-9 Months.
9-10 Months.
| 10-11 Months.
| 11-12 Months.
t otal Deaths
under 1 year.
All causes :
15
1
i
i
2
i
i
3
2
i
28
Uncertified
1
1
!
Common Infectious Diseases
Small-pox
i
i
Chicken-pox
"T
Measles ...
...L
Scarlet Fever
...i...
Diphtheria: Croup
...L.
Whooping Cough
,
2
1
3
Diarrhoeal Diseases :
Diarrhoea, all forms
Enteritis ( not Tuberculous )
Gastritis, Gastro-intestinal
Catarrh
1
Wasting Diseases :
Premature Birth ...
10
...
10
Congenital Defects
Injury at Birth
Want of Breast-milk
Atrophy, Debility, Maras-
mus
Tuberculous Diseases :
Tuberculous Meningitis . . .
j
Tuberculous Peritonitis :
Tabes Mesenterica
Other Tuberculous diseases
!
Erysipelas ...
!
Syphilis
1
:::
Rickets
j
Meningitis ( not Tuberculous )
Convulsions...
!
1 i
1
Bronchitis ...
1
1
Laryngitis ...
Pneumonia ...
i
i
2
Suffocation, Overlaying ..
...
Other causes
6
1
i
1
i
1
i
i
12
“T”
16
1
i
1
2
i
i
3
i i
...: 2 ...
i
29
District (or Sub-division) of Cosford Rural District.
Births in the year { } ... 267
Deaths from all causes at all ages ... 183
Population, estimated to middle of 1907 11618
Names of
Localities.
1.
WHOLE DISTRICT.
2.
HADLEIGH
DIVISION.
3.
LAVENHAM
DIVISION.
Year.
Population esti-
mated to middle
of each year.
Births registered.
Deaths at all
Ages.
Deaths under
one year.
Population esti-
mated to middle
of each year.
Births registered.
Deaths at all
Ages.
Deaths under i
one year.
Population esti-
mated to middle
of each year.
Births registered.
Deaths at all
Ages.
Deaths under
one year.
a.
b.
c.
d.
a .
b.
c.
d.
a .
b.
c.
d.
1897 ..
12354
338
173
23
4483
141
63
10
7871
197
110
13
1898 ..
320
200
40
, ,
124
82
18
196
118
22
1899 ..
310
167
25
, .
103
62
7
207
115
18
1900 ..
325
196
35
134
70
10
191
126
25
1901 ..
11618
327
179
35
4737
130
68
11
6881
197
111
24
1902 . .
278
194
36
103
89
16
175
105
20
1903 ..
282
169
34
115
53
8
167
106
26
1904 ..
281
169
30
, ,
103
62
8
178
107
22
1905 ..
283
138
18
. ,
108
55
3
175
83
15
1906 . .
284
171
27
109
64
8
••
175
107
19
Averages \
of years /
1897 to (
1906.. '
302.8
175.6
30.3
••
117.0
66.8
9.9
••
185.8
108.8
20.4
1907 ..
11618
267
183
29
4737
94
65
7I
6881
173
118
22
TABLE III. — Cases of Infectious Disease notified
during the year 1907.
Notifiable Disease.
Cases notified in Whole District.
Tot’l cases notified
At all
ages.
Under
1.
1 to 5.
At age
5 to 15
— Year
15 to
25.
s.
25 to
65.
65 and
upw’ds
in e«
1
ich loc
2
ality.
3
Small-pox . .
m ,
# ,
..
..
Cholera
. ,
Diphtheria . . |
i
. .
1
, .
i
. ,
1
Membranous Croup )
. .
. .
, .
Erysipelas . .
3
1
1
i
3
i
2
Scarlet Fever
13
1
6
2
4
, ,
13
6
7
Typhus Fever
, .
, ,
. ,
, ,
Enteric Fever
1
i
, ,
1
i
Relapsing Fever ..
, ,
, ,
, ,
. .
. ,
, ,
, ,
Continued Fever . .
. .
, ,
, ,
, ,
, ,
Puerperal Fever . .
. •
. .
. .
Plague
••
••
••
••
Totals
18
1
8
2
6
i
18
7
il
ISOLATION HOSPITAL NONE.
TABLE IV.— Cosford Rural District.
Causes of, and Ages at, Death during year 1907.
Causes of Death.
Deaths in whole district at
subjoined ages.
c Deaths in Lo-
■ calities.
! A,. -11 \
Death in Public
Institutions.
All ages.
Under 1
year.
1 & under 5
5 and under
15.
15 and under
25.
25 and under
65.
65 and
upwards.
5
j
1
1
2
-cs.y
3
Small-pox
|
Measles
i
1
! i
i
Scarlet Fever..
{
Whooping-cough
6
3
3
, ,
6
2
4
Diphtheria and Mem-
branous Croup
. .
, ,
Croup . .
, .
( Typhus
, ,
, ,
Fever 1 Enteric
i
i
1
i
( other continued
Epidemic Influenza . .
4
4
4
1
3
Cholera
Plague . .
Diarrhoea
Enteritis
3
i
i
i
3
3
Puerperal Fever
Erysipelas
i
i
i
i
Other Septic Diseases
, ,
Phthisis
14
2
ii
i
14
6
8
Other tubercular diseases
2
i
1
2
2
Cancer, malignant disease
11
5
6
11
4
6
1
Bronchitis
15
i
i
i
, .
12
15
1
14
Pneumonia
6
2
2
. #
2
6
1
5
Pleurisy
. ,
. .
, ,
, ,
, ,
Other Diseases of Res-
piratory Organs . .
. .
. ,
Alcoholism . . 1
Cirrhosis of Liver f ' '
z
1
2
* *
2
Venereal Diseases
Premature Birth
10
10
10
1
9
Diseases and Accidents
of Parturition
Heart Diseases
25
1
7
17
25
6
16
3
Accidents
4
2
2
4
1
2
1
Suicides
2
2
. ,
2
1
1
All other causes
76
12
4
2
13
45
76
29
40
7
All causes
183
29
11
4
4
43
92
183
53
118
12
ML
H
w
w
e*
&
»
<«
■
a
W'
a
«S5* HH
vD
a
a
a
s*
o>
>
^ a.
^ 3
C/3 E?
0 3
a? Ef.
o <
5? ®
' o
o
g
D
Sanitary Statistics of Cosford Rural District, for the Year 1907.
Subjects.
Aldham
Bildeston
Boxford
Brent Eleigh
Brettenham
Chelsworth
Cockfield
Edwardstone
Elmsett
Groton
Hadleigh
Hamlet
Hitcham
Kersey
Kettlebaston
Lavenham
s
a
CS
Lindsey
Milden
Monks Eleigh
! Naughton
1
Nedging
! Polstead
Preston
Semer
Thorpe
Morieux
Wattisham
1
Whatfield
j Workhouse
Total.
Acreage
1755
1171
1325
1684
1438
877
3626
1891
1992
1560
427
4308
1510
1041
2898
2531
1230
1343
2099
980
856
3414
2006
1242
2497
1272
1599
48572
Population — 1901 ...
238
788
612
182
273
199
854
416
361
358
183
755
482
129
2018
464
221
152
553
142
171
669
288
+ 182
370
149
317
92
11618
„ 1891
228
736
682
221
336
227
926
420
434
437
191
874
482
120
1908
542
253
160
547
144
200
745
318
1189
385
178
365
116
12354
I. Births—
6
22
7
5
12
7
25
7
6
4
7
17
9
5
43
8
4
4
15
2
. 17
5
3
5
8
10
4
267
1907 — Rate per 1000 ...
25.2
27.9
11.4
27.4
43.9
35.1
29.2
16.8
16.6
11.1
38.2
22.6
18-6
38.7
21.3
17.2
18.0
26.3
27.1
14.0
25.4
17.3
16.9
13.5
53.6
31.5
43.4
22.9
1906 — Rate per 1000
12.6
21.5
16.3
49.4
36.6
30.1
28.1
21.6
33.2
22.3
27.3
30.4
18.6
16.5
25.7
25.8
27.1
13.1
19.8
28.1
17.5
29.8
20.8
21.9
21.6
13.4
12.6
32.6
24.4
II. Deaths, Zymotic —
1
L
1
1
1
1
3
2
1
1
...
...
...
...
13
Rate per 1000 ...
4.2
1.2
5.4
3.6
1.1
2.4
3.9
0.9
2.1
6.5
1.1
,, From other Causes ...
1
5
5
1
4
4
13
6
5
3
2
9
9
2
35
3
4
2
10
1
3
7
6
1
h
3
4
12
170
Rate per 1000 ...
4.2
6.3
8.1
5.4
14.6
20.1
15.2
14.4
13.8
8.3
10.9
11.9
18.6
15.5
17.3
6.4
18.0
13.1
18.0
7.0
17.5
10.4
20.8
5.4
29.7
20.1
12.6
130.4
14.6
,, Total
1907 — Rate per 1000
2
6
5
2
5
4
14 7
5
3
2
12
9
2
37
4
4
3
10
1
J)
7
6
1
11
3
4
12
183
8.4
7.7
8.1
10.9
18.3
20.1
16.3
16.8
13.8
8.3
10.9
15.8
18. G
15.5
18.3
8.6
18.0
19.7
18.0
7.0
17.5
10.4
20.8
5.4
29.7
20.1
12.6
130.4
15.7
1906 — Rate per 1000 ...
12.6
10.1
8.1
21.9
18.3
10.0
11.7
12.0
13.8
16.7
5.4
11.9
10.3
16.3
21.5
4.5
26.3
16.2
11.6
14.9
20.8
16.4
21.6
13.4
3.1
120.6
14.7
III. Infectious Diseases —
(Notification Act.)
Cholera
Croup
,,
Diphtheria
1
1
Erysipelas ...
1
2
3
Puerperal Fever
...
Scarlet Fever
Small Pox
Typhoid Fever
5
7
”l
1
13
1
Typhus and other Fevers
...
Total
5
1
1
7
3
1
18
IV. Water Supply*
1
1
5
1
12
4
2
2
1
1
1
31
Sanitary Inspectionf
2
8
14
2
3
4
10
2
5
8
4
7
7
4
8
1
1
3
2
7
1
3
2
7
115
•Public Supply
fNotices Issued.